GRPS 330
IMMEDIATE
CYPHER/CAT A
१०
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY
1
33
FM HONG KONG 119450Z
о
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CONFIDENTIAL
никод
TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELNO BTC-97 OF 11TH AUGUST, 1973.
YOUR TELNO 790. STERLING.
JA
I AM SURE STATEMENT WILL BE CAREFULLY DRAFTED TO TAKE ACCOUNT
NOT ONLY OF HONG KONG'S DIFFICULT POSITION BUT ALSO OF THE
PROBABLE STRENGTH OF FEELING AGAINST BRITAIN IF HONG KONG DOES NOT GET FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT ALL COMMENTATORS ARE PRESSING FOR AS
NECESSITY AND RIGHT.
E.G.
17.8
BUT, FROM PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE (AND CURRENT COMMENTS FAR EASTERN ECONOMIC REVIEW EDITORIAL) THE HARM IS DONE BY THE SUBSEQUENT EDITORIALS, COMMENTS BY BANKERS (ESPECIALLY CHINESE) AND THE BRITAIN KNOCKERS VIRTUALLY ALL OF WHOM SEE AND PRESENT THIS AS (ANOTHER) DIRECT CONFLICT BETWEEN U.K. AND HONG KONG INTERESTS. HADDON-CAVE NATURALLY HAS TO PUT BEST
FACE FOR HONG KONG AND IT IS I BELIEVE ASKING A GREAT DEAL OF HIM
AND G.I.S. TO DEFEND OUR POSITION WHERE IT DIVERGES FROM HONG
KONG AND HARMS OR DOES NOT HELP
<
HIS CASE.
LOCAL BRITISH INTERESTS WILL ALSO FIND IT DIFFICULT TO UNDER-
STAND IF THEY ARE REFERRED TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT FOR THE BRI-
TISH GOVERNMENTS LINE, AND WILL BE DUBIOUS ABOUT IT IN A DISPUTED
MATTER SUCH AS THIS.
I NEED NOT SAY MORE THAN IN PREVIOUS EXCHANGES
ABOUT EFFECT THIS CAN HAVE ON EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS OFFICE
IN PROMOTING, AND DEFENDING BRITISH COMMERCIAL INTERESTS AND I
HAVE NOT WEIGHTED IT INTO THESE COMMENTS.
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CONFIDENTIAL
/AS INSTRUCTED
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